Vehicles carrying heavy loads will be stopped and checked by officials from the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) and Vehicle Operator Services Agency (VOSA) in a week-long campaign to ensure load safety. The campaign is being taken up by HSE to promote safe loading practices in the haulage industry.
According to HSE statistics, unsafe loading is responsible for many injuries and fatalities in the
VOSA’s Research and Development Manager, John Fitch stated that it is important for the haulage industry to accept the need for better practices here to prevent any more untoward incidents.
In order to curb these unsafe practices, the HSE has joined forces with VOSA to conduct spot checking of load-carrying vehicles. Hundreds of vehicles chosen at random will be stopped on the roads and checked by officials of HSE and VOSA. If loads are found inadequately secured, the driver/ business owner may be fined or the vehicle may be ordered to stay off the road. The checks will be conducted over eight days in the North-West region. Last year’s campaign revealed that about 80% of the loads were not properly secured.
By raising awareness about the importance of following proper loading and unloading procedures, HSE hopes to bring down the number of workplace transport-related deaths and injuries. Guidance and tips on how to secure loads correctly will be mailed to hauliers and transport managers who will also be informed of the campaign via radio and trade press advertisements. For more information see www.hse.gov.uk/loadsafety.
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